Trap-door stairs



'.(No Model.)

- J. J. SCHURB...

TRAP DOOR'STAIRS.

No. 568,704. Patented sept. 29, 1896.

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JOHN JACOB SOI-IURR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAP-DOOR STAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,704, dated September 29, 1896.

Application ined June 25,1896. SerialNo- 596,843- (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JAooB SoHUER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trap-Door Stairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trap-door stairs, and has for its object the provision of novel means whereby stairs of the above-referred-to class may be easily and conveniently operated.

The invention has for its further object to provide means to allow the stairs to be compact-ly stored under a trap-door, so that the entire room beneath the trap-door may be utilized.

The invention has for its still further object to place the stairs adjacent to the wall and provide means whereby the stairs proper will be prevented from coming in contact with the same.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention nally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore speciiically described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a Vpart of this speciiication, and wherein like letters of reference indicate similarparts throughout the several views, in whichm Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a room, showing my improved trap-door stairs applied in position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stairs in a raised position with the trap-door closed. Fig. 3 :is a transverse sectional view of a room, showing front elevation of the stairs and the trap-door in the elevated position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the stairs, showing manner of securing same. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lower portion of the stairs.

In the drawings, a represents the iloor of the second story,to which is secured the braces b, said braces being pivotally attached to the upper end of the side pieces c of the stairs and supporting the same. The stairs are formed in the ordinary manner and rest on their base on the lower floor, and to the side piece next the wall is pivotally secured a brace d, carrying friction-rollers e e, to engage the wall, the lower end of said brace resting on the loor when the stairs are in the lowered position, while to the upper end is attached the cord f, or other device employed for lifting the stairs to the elevated position. This cord f passes over a pulley g, attached to the wall of the second floor of the building at a point slightly above the height of the trap-door 77, when same is raised, and also over pulleys 7s and k', arranged on the wall in alinement with the pulley g, said cord j' carrying on its lower extremity a weight l. To the top of the brace d is also attached a cord m, which likewise passes over the pulleys g and Za and a roller n, secured underneath the pulley k, and is attached to the trapdoor h, both cords operating in unison, as will be hereinafter more specifically described. To the outer side piece of the sta-irs is pivotally attached upright braces o o, to which is pivotally secured side rails pp, forming a balustrade adapted to fold as the stairs are elevated, and the aforesaid outer side piece is also provided near its base with a pawl .or dog q, adapted to engage the floor and assist in holding the stairs rigid.

The operationof my improved trap-door stairs will be readily apparent from the views of the same that l have shown in the drawings, but in order to illustrate the same l will describe it as follows: le will assume for this purpose that the parts have all been seagain brought to the position for use, the lowering of the same will open the door, and the stairs may be rigidly secured and pre- Vented from any lateral movement by the dog or pawl q engaging in the iioor.

As the IOO rollers journaled in recesses of the standard, :L flexible connection extending from the top oi' the standard, a trap-door to which the opposite end is attached, said connection being so made as to cause the stairs and door to operate in conjunction, and means for holding the stairs rigid, substantially .its described.

In testimony whereof I affix lny signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOIIN JACOB SCIIURR. lVitnesses:

I-I. C. EVERT, Il. E. SEIBERT. 

